Although most "loopers" seem to bypass the Big Bend, we are interested
in actually experiencing some of the old Florida areas that are
apparently still very much alive and well, if water depth and weather
permits.

Sanderling is currently in Carrabelle at the C-Quarters marina while
we're enjoying a few months at home. We want to resume our cruise
homeward to Merritt Island once the winter winds subside and water
levels return to near "normal," temps warm up, and daylight is longer -
probably March.

We have visited St. Marks, Steinhatchee, and Cedar Key by car on our way
to and from Sanderling, and would like to visit all three on our way
around the Big Bend to Tarpon Springs. Might also consider Crystal River.

At least one boater has visited both St. Marks and Steinhatchee in a DF
49 with a 5 foot draft (our DF 41 is 4 feet), but most of the marks on
Active Captain were placed by boats with shallow drafts of 2-3 feet
(there are a number of marks where the captain info does not include
boat detail - not very helpful).

Has anyone cruised into those three areas (St. Marks, Steinhatchee,
Cedar Key) or Crystal River in a boat with 4+ foot draft, and what was
your experience with the water depths and anchorages/marinas?

Any thoughts or suggestions welcome!

<><><><><><><><><><><><>Mozilla Thunderbird<><><><><><><><><><>
Bob McLeran and Judy Young              Manatee Cove Marina
MV Sanderling                            Patrick Air Force Base
DeFever 41 Trawler                      Melbourne, Florida
Blog: http://mvsanderling.net/Blog
Web: http://cruising.mvsanderling.net/

Has anyone cruised into those three areas (St. Marks, Steinhatchee, Cedar Key) or Crystal River in a boat with 4+ foot draft, and what was your experience with the water depths and anchorages/marinas?

We had a DeFever 44+5 with a 4'-7" draft (5' w/Admiral's stuff).  Cannot attest to the depths now, but we went into St. Marks in May of 2006 & had no problems.  Also, no problems with Steinhatchee & Cedar Key in December of 2007.  Best I remember we went into both places on a rising tide. Never did go into Crystal River, but had friends that have been in there with 4'-6" draft & had no trouble.
Don't believe I would make the trip today into any of those places until the wind blows the water back into the bays.

Eddie Lomenick
Eagle's Nest
45' Tiara
Lying Aqua Yacht Harbor
M/M 448.7 TN-Tom Waterway

we cruised the Crystal river and up to tarpon springs in 2008 on a shakedown aboard our 48" endeavour cat.
Pleasant cruising and certainly enough depth for us.
Slips were hard to come by in Tarpon Springs though and I don't remember seeing much in the way of anchorages.
We hope to return and head further North when time allows.
Jonah.

On Jan 7, 2014, at 10:41 AM, Bob McLeran Bob@MVSanderling.net wrote:

Although most "loopers" seem to bypass the Big Bend, we are interested in actually experiencing some of the old Florida areas that are apparently still very much alive and well, if water depth and weather permits.

Sanderling is currently in Carrabelle at the C-Quarters marina while we're enjoying a few months at home. We want to resume our cruise homeward to Merritt Island once the winter winds subside and water levels return to near "normal," temps warm up, and daylight is longer - probably March.

We have visited St. Marks, Steinhatchee, and Cedar Key by car on our way to and from Sanderling, and would like to visit all three on our way around the Big Bend to Tarpon Springs. Might also consider Crystal River.

At least one boater has visited both St. Marks and Steinhatchee in a DF 49 with a 5 foot draft (our DF 41 is 4 feet), but most of the marks on Active Captain were placed by boats with shallow drafts of 2-3 feet (there are a number of marks where the captain info does not include boat detail - not very helpful).

Has anyone cruised into those three areas (St. Marks, Steinhatchee, Cedar Key) or Crystal River in a boat with 4+ foot draft, and what was your experience with the water depths and anchorages/marinas?

Any thoughts or suggestions welcome!

<><><><><><><><><><><><>Mozilla Thunderbird<><><><><><><><><><>
Bob McLeran and Judy Young              Manatee Cove Marina
MV Sanderling                            Patrick Air Force Base
DeFever 41 Trawler                      Melbourne, Florida
Blog: http://mvsanderling.net/Blog
Web: http://cruising.mvsanderling.net/

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